Bottle carrier



NOV 4, 1952 F. J. MIDDLESTADT 2,616,602

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 2s, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1952 F. J. MIDDLESTADT 2,616,602

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 23, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 1N VE NTOR F7260 IMmazfsr/aor ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 BOTTLE CARRIER AFred John Middlestadt, Ba'1timore,`Md., assigor to Joseph B. Waller, Baltimore, Md.

V`vApplication February 23, 1950, SerialNo. 1145i685 4 Claims. .1 l

The present :invention relates to bottle carriers and 'has specicreferenceto a Collapsible bottle carrier which may be employed to transport small groups of bottles and which may `be used in storing large numbers of bottles by stacking one carrier on another.

The Vcarrier of' theA present invention possesses all 'ofthe advantages Yand is capable of performingall of the functions of the carrier disclosed in Patent No. 2,531,092. Among Athese are A.the drab'ility, rigidity and long life of 'the carrier, and easelo'f'handling so'tha't Athe carriers maybe stacked 'abovevr one Aanother when they are filled with bottles, asfwell"'a's`the special A'features of construction 'which enable vthe carrier to firmly embrace the bottles Vwhen liftedby the Vhandle -and to be folded orcollapsed into relatively flat condition when not in use.

The principalobject of the'present invention is Yto provide'a collapsible bottle carrier which is held 4in the Vopenpo'sit'i'on'by the force of gravity which is'augmented by the weight of the bottles being carried.

Another object of 'this invention Ais to provide a collapsible vbottleV carrier which firmly grips the bottles being carried between two'opposed panels one movable with relation to the'other.

Another object of thisin'vention is to provide a collapsible bottlef'carrier'which has a bottom shelf pivotally attached along "oneof its `sides to the carrier for supporting the 'Weight of the bottles and which may be folded inwardly to'enable a relativelyflatfolding of the carrier when empty for convenient'storage ina minimum amountof space.

*V'Still'another obje'ctof this invention is to provide a collapsible Vbottlevca'rrier Iwhich carries a 'single row of bottles-'and firmly engages them When-thecarrer is lifted by the handle.

'-Yet another "objectof this invention is to provide'ra collapsible bottle carrier which can carry large or's'mall bottles in firmly gripped Aposition in either one or two rows.

A still further object'ofthis invention is to provide acollapsible bottle carrier of the type-described for carryingtwo rows of bottles which vhas lower shelves having outwardlyprojectingY ridges for engaging 'the tops of bottles'so-that one carrier 4may be `stacked 'above another without slipping out 'of alignmenttherewith Andi yet another objectof this invention is to provide `a collapsible Vbottle carrier of the type described which is durable and yet inexpensive to manufacture inquantity vbecause of its simple design which requiresonlya minimum amount of sheet metal.

With vthese and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent during the course of `the following description, the -invention consists-inthe features and combinations hereinafter set forth: l n

In order to make the. inventionmore fully understood, preferred embodiments thereof 'have been made the subject of illustration in the accompanying drawings `in which:

Fig-ure 1 is Ya A-side elevation of the 'carrier in fully extended position with a load of bottles;

FigureZ is atop plan view of the carrierwith the handle partly cut away Vto show "the 'fiiied panel engaging thefbottles 'being carried;

.Figure 3 .is `an end view of the carrier infully collapsed position, as for storage 'or 'transportation in unloaded condition;

Figure 4 is an end View ofthe carriershowi'ng how the inner'panel andthe side 'panelmove in vertical and converging relation`V whenthe handle is raised;

Figurev5 is a cross sectionishow'ing the carrier being supported from'itsboi'ltoiru and Figure 6 is' an'end vewof the'oairier 'of this invention which is 'adapted to carryand support two rows of bottles.

In its 'broadest concept 'the' present invention embodies a Ycollapsible bottle' carrier 'constructed of vrigid sheet 'material and' which has a" handle, afixedipanel, a'movablepanel, end members connecting 'thefixed panel and`the"movable panel for Arelative vertical movement, a'shelf Ap'ivot'ally attached 'to the movable panel and forming 'a bottom 'for thecarrier, and means limitingmovement ofthe shelf 'below theh'orizontal plane. By inserting `bottles 'in the carrier 'and lifting the handle gravity will pull th'emovable panel down and inwardtowar'd the 'xed panelto grinthe bottles. When the vc :arrier Vis empty,'the shelf forming the vbottom of the carrier may be'folded up inside the carrier, 'andthe carrier can then be crushed into'a relatively flat condition for'storage.

It is further contemplated that means be 'provided for Vcarrying"ftwol opposedrows "of bottles, that 'means beprovid'ed'for conveniently 'stacking the loaded carriers Aont'opof one another, 'and that 'means beprovded forreinforcing the rigid material'to'give it greater durability.

Referring in particular tothe 'drawings Figures 1 and 2 show the -bottle carrier of this invention, generally `designated as l0, which is preferably constructed of `rigid sheet metal. The carrier is constructed around a handle Il having a "U-shaped cross-section for lightness. IThe handle includes atopport'ion '|12 and-vertical handle members I3. A movable side panel Ill contacts bottles being carried (as shown by dotted lines) along one side thereof. A fixed panel I5 contacts the same bottles along the other side. Inwardly bent end flanges I6 are extended below the bottom edge of the panel Ill as shown at Il. End members I8 pivotally connect the panel I4 with the handle members I3. These end members I8 are attached to the panel I4 by rivets I9 which pass through the flanges I6. These members I8 are designed to give at least line contact with the bottles in each end of the carrier rather than merely contacting at one point. As shown, because of the width of members I, they give contact with the end bottles along a vertical line for a substantial distance. The other end of the members I8 are pivotally attached to the handle members I3 by rivets 26. A bottom shelf 2l having an upwardly extending longitudinal section or ange22 and end flanges 23 is pivoted to the flanges I8 by rivets 24.

Figure 3 shows longitudinal lip 25 which ex- -tends along the upper edge of panel I4 to give added strength to the thin sheet of metal. Also, a ridge 2b is pressed in the panel I4 to give similar strengthening characteristics. Note that the lip and ridge project outwardly, so that bottles pressed against the inside of the panel I4 will press against a ilat surface rather than narrow edges. A similar strengthening lip 2l runs along the inner edge of the shelf 2l. Longitudinal ridges 28 and transverse ridges 29 in the shelf 2l give added strength to the shelf. They also serve another purpose to be brought out later in connection with a double-row bottle carrier.

As shown in Figure 5 the inner or fixed panel I5 has a flange 3@ through which rivets 20 pass to secure the panel to the handle member I3. An inwardly projecting lip 3| serves to strengthen this panel. Horizontal cut-outs are made in this lip at intervals at 32 as shown in Figure 2 to receive the bottles being carried so that the latter will press against the vertical surface of the panel rather than just the edge of the lip.

In operation the carrier is placed on a flat surface as shown in Figures 1 and 5 and a row of bottles are inserted therein. When the handle is initially lifted as in Figure 4 in order to transport the carrier and the bottles, the outer panel and the bottom shelf remain stationary and the handle and its inner panel due to the pivotal action of the end members move Vertically and at the same time move to narrow the gap between the inner and outer panel. Therefore the bottles positioned in the carrier are gripped between the inner and outer panels in tight engagement so that they cannot fall out even if the carrier is swung back and forth or tilted to a substantial degree.

It will be noted that the bottom shelf will remain flat against the bottom surface of the bottles even when the carrier is lifted into the air because the flange 22 contacts the outer edge of the flange i6 as the shelf tends to pivot about the pivot 24 to prevent further downward movement of the shelf below the horizontal plane. It will also be readily apparent that the bottom shelf is self draining since there is a gap left between the ends of the flanges 23 and the flange 22 and the lip 2l.

In order to collapse the present carrier to the position shown in Figure 3, the free end of the bottom shelf of the carrier as shown in Figure 4 is pushed upwardly toward the inside of the panel I4 as far as it will go, and then the panel and bottom shelf together are pushed down away from the handle as far as they will go. The carrier thus conforms to a relatively flat structure which may be easily stored and handled in large numbers.

Figure 6 shows a carrier embodying the principles of the present invention, which is adapted to carry two rows of bottles. On this construction the elements which are movable with respect to the handle in the single row carrier are duplicated on the other side of the handle. Since -the inner panel is retained in the double row carrier the locking or gripping principle is identical with that in the single row carrier. Thus whether the carrier has one or six bottles placed in it no bottle will fall. As a matter of fact so long as bottles of the same dimension are carried in a single row of the carrier of this invention different size bottles may be carried and firmly gripped. For smaller bottles the shelf and side panel merely fall lower before the gripping action takes effect.

It should be noted that the handle has been extended in Figure 6 so that the end members are horizontal when the carrier is opened on a flat surface. In this construction the bottles of the largest size which can be carried can be loaded more quickly without having to lift the handles slightly before positioning the bottles against the bottom shelf. That is because the xed and movable panels are furthest apart when the end members are horizontal.

The outwardly projecting ridges in the bottom shelf serve another purpose in addition to strengthening the shelf. These ridges are spaced so that when a carrier is stacked over bottles carried by a carrier below, it cannot slide over the tops of those bottles. The longitudinal ridges are spaced apart approximately the normal diameter of a bottle top to prevent transverse movement, and transverse ridges prevent longitudinal movement of the carrier.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is contemplated that modifications thereof may v,be made without departing from the spirit of' the invention. Accordingly it is intended that lthe scope of the invention be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a handle having a top portion and vertical spaced side members, a movable panel, vertically spaced end bars pivotally connected to the handle member and the movable panel at each end of the carrier, a fixed panel extending between the two handle members in order that at least one bottle may be placed between said panels to be gripped there-between when the handle is lifted, and a bottom shelf supported at one side only by pivotal connection to the movable panel and having an upwardly bent section along the one side which contacts the side panel on its outer surface to'limit the downward movement of the shelf below the horizontal plane.

2. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a handle having a top portion and vertical spaced side members, a movable panel having a vertical flanged portion at each end thereof which extends below the lower edge of the panel, vertically spaced end bars pivotally connected to the handle member and themovable panel at each end of the carrier, a fixed panel extending between the two handle members, and a bottom shelf supported at one side by pivotal connection to the lower extension of the anged portions and having an upwardly bent section along the one side which contacts the outer edge of the flanged portions to limit the downward movement of the shelf below the horizontal plane so that the carrier may be collapsed by folding the bottom shelf inwardly adjacent the side panel and then lowering the side panel and said shelf together to a position below and aligned with the handle.

3. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a handle having a top portion and vertical spaced side members, a panel extending between the side members, a, movable panel having flanged portions at each end thereof, vertically spaced end members pivotally connecting the handle and the flanged portion at each end of the movable panel for relative vertical movement, and a bottom shelf having a ange at each end thereof and supported at one side by pivotal connection to the flanged portions on the movable panel and having an upwardly bent section along the one side which contacts the flanged portions on the movable panel to limit the downward movement of the bottom shelf below the horizontal plane.

4. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a handle having a top portion and vertical spaced side members, a fixed panel extending between the two side members, a pair of opposed side panels, vertically spaced end members pivotally connecting the handle and the side panels for relative vertical movement and a bottom shelf pivotally connected at one side to one side panel, and another bottom shelf similarly connected to the other side panel, each of said shelves having an upwardly bent section along the one side which contacts the side panel on the latters outer surface to limit the downward movement of each shelf below the horizontal plane.

FRED JOHN MIDDLESTADT.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 161,064 Stevenson Nov. 28, 1950 2,285,566 Brunhoi June 9, 1942 2,404,532 Rocker July 23, 1946 2,432,351 Strobl Dec. 9, 1947 2,508,062 Fowler May 16, 1950 2,522,080 Wyatt Sept. 12, 1950 2,531,092 Waller Nov. 21, 1950 

